How to sell prints?

billschwab said:

... Anyway... sorry if this sounds like a rant. ...

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Nope, right there with ya Bill.

I tried eveywhere and any where, no luck

Have you considered just giving your prints away and enjoying the hobby?

Dave Miller said:

Have you considered just giving your prints away and enjoying the hobby?

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I've done this to the point that I realise I have no recent examples of my own work anymore Gotta stop with the exchanges!
Or at least learn to keep/make/print one or two for myself.

cmo said:

Many of you sell prints online... what is your experience, where is the money, where is the beef? How do you promote yourself? I am not a professional, I am located in Europe, and I sell many of my photos to friends and neighbours, so I guess I can make the world happy with my art and sell some prints to foreigners from time to time.

PS: what type of prints do you sell? I use a hybrid workflow consisting of a good scanner and a large Epson printer. What kind of physical material do people or collectors ask for?

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Hi cmo,

I've had my website up since January of this year...sent e-mail notifications to just about everyone I know...participate in online Forums and other venues...had one of my images selected as a "Featured Image" on Creative Image Maker (Dead Link Removed. Three--count 'em 3--prints sold in 7 months!

I did recently sell an image to a work colleague that cornered me in the hall the other day and said: "Ya know, I framed that print of yours and it's hanging over my couch, but I think I need a couple more to really complete the space." You go girl!! By 'em all!! Anyway, my point is that IMO, and as others have already said, print sales is a "tough roe to hoe!" I don't fool myself to think I could ever make a living at this; rather I'm just looking to "support the habit."

My apologies to the Analogiban, but currently I do scan and print digitally. I have no room for a darkroom in my current house so shooting film, and then outputting on inkjet printers enables me to continue to work. I look forward to the day I can make silver prints, again!

billschwab said:

Make it a hobby and be grateful for each and every sale that comes along.

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I agree with everything you said.I have a few years now of selling via "art shows" and having work up in offices, etc.

Last year was quite good - for me - but I still made 4 times as much in my other work, which is part time consulting. Photography covers its own costs, but there are a lot of costs associated with doing shows - entry fees, gas, meals, promo materials, inventory, packaging, etc. etc. etc. so I don't find it very profitable.

It is hard work for every sale, but I find that having people stop by, admire my work, and tell me how much they appreciate it is a big factor in continuing to go out and shoot. I guess I have an ego after all.

Gotta do it because you love it.

JBrunner said:

Photography is truly a labor of love. Print sales for most are a way to feed the habit.

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My meager, very simplistic website is really just for me at the moment, but I'm slowly working on it's effectiveness for a local "target" audience for precisely this sentiment. With only weekends (and not every weekend for sure) as my time to dive into this, it's definitely a labor of love. Time will tell.

This is an interesting thread with some very good points of view. Like someone already said, "we're in it for the love". I'd also like to add that most of us aren't that great of photographers.

The best marketing plan isn't going to work if your photographs don't move people. If you're so worried about only selling a few prints a year from your questionably designed website then you're focusing on the wrong things. Improve your craft by any means possible then see where you land. There are several high grade photographers and organizations who offer classes and workshops. Spend your time and money on those. Maybe even take some classes more than once.

This might sound a little harsh but I also think it's pretty obvious.
Personally, I also think it's hard to look at your work critically. I'm an art director and look at photos all day long and still have a hard time evaluating my own work.

I wish us all good light and good luck.

Alan.